Attachment for vehicle-shafts



(No Model.)

D. S. FIELD ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE SHAFTS.

No. 436,945. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAYTON S. FIELD, OF MENDON, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,945, dated September 23, 1890.

' Application filed August 1, 1890. Serial No. 360,635- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAYTON S. FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at M endon, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have inyented a new and useful Shaft Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carriages and wagons, and more especially to the shafts thereof; and the object of the same is to provide an attachment whereby the forward ends of the shafts will be rigidly and firmly connected by a bar passing across the front of the breast of the horse, and whereby also the reins will be prevented from catching under the forward ends of the shafts, to the annoyance and danger of the occupants of the vehicle.

To this end the invention consists of the specific details of construction hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a pair of shafts embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the shafts, showing the parts in engagement with each other.

Referring to the said drawings, S S are the shafts of an ordinary vehicle, which shafts may be of any approved construction, but whose front ends stand at apoint forward of the breast of the horse. To each of said front ends is secured a ferrule F, having a tapering body, whose rear end fits tightly upon the end of the shaft, but whose front end extends forward thereof and is made quite thick, as shown at T, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. In an opening in the body of the ferrule is pivoted a catch 0, held in normal position by a. coiled spring G beneath its handle H, and the point P of this catch extends through the thick portion T of the ferrule F into the cylindrical bore thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

R is a strong cylindrical metallic rod, whose ends are bent at right angles, as at A, the length of each end between the angle A and the extremity E being the same as the length of the thickened portion T of the ferrule and the depth of its contained cylindrical bore. At a point midway between the angle A and extremity E is formed an annular notch N in the rod R of a size sufficient to receive the point P of the catch.

After the horse has been hitched to the buggy in the usual manner, the ends of the rod R are passed into the outer ends of said cylindrical bores and are pressed to the rear until they abut firmly against the ends of the wooden shafts. At this moment the angles A will rest against the outer ends of the ferrules F, and the points P of both catches will be seated in the notches N, as will be clearly understood. The rod R will thus firmly and rigidly connect the front ends of the shafts, and movement of either shaft independent of the other will be resisted. Should an accident occur, should the horse fall, or should the end of either shaft run against the wheel of another vehicle, the injurious results which would otherwise occur to beast and property will be avoided, because there are no projecting ends to the shafts, and even the latter will not ordinarily be broken because they are so firmly connected by the rod. The seating of the ends of the rod in the thick portions T of the ferrules prevent the latter from being broken or split in event of accident, and in this respect said thickened ends are more in the nature of sockets than of ferrules.

WVhat is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The herein-described shaft attachment, the same comprising ferrules F, adapted to be mounted upon the forward ends of the shafts, the front end of each ferrule being thickened, as at T, and having a cylindrical bore, a spring-actuated catch 0, mounted in each ferrule with its point P extending into said bore, and a straight rod R, bent at right angles at points A near its ends, said bent ends being of the same length as said cylindrical bore and having annular notches N, adapted to be engaged by the points of the catches, all as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAYTON S. FIELD.

Witnesses:

S. H. BENNETT, W. F. PATTERSON. 

